Golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club heads are generally described herein. In one example, a golf club head may include a body portion with a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, and a front portion. The golf club head may include an interior cavity. Other examples and embodiments may be described and claimed.

COPYRIGHT AUTHORIZATION

The present disclosure may be subject to copyright protection. Thecopyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyoneof the present disclosure and its related documents, as they appear inthe Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwisereserves all applicable copyrights.

CROSS REFERENCE

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/010,836, Jun. 11, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/011,859,filed Jun. 13, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/032,770, filedAug. 4, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/041,538, filed Aug.25, 2014, U.S. Provisional Application No. U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/118,403, filed Feb. 19, 2015, and U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 62/159,856, filed May 11, 2015. This application is a continuationof U.S. Non-Provisional Ser. No. 14/711,596, filed May 13, 2015, whichis a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Non-Provisionalapplication Ser. No. 14/589,277, filed Jan. 5, 2015, which is acontinuation application of U.S. Non-Provisional application Ser. No.14/513,073, filed Oct. 13, 2014, which is a continuation application ofU.S. Non-Provisional Ser. No. 14/498,603, filed Sep. 26, 2014, whichclaims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/041,538, filedAug. 25, 2014. This application is also a continuation-in-partapplication of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/511,482, filed Dec. 11,2014, which is a divisional application of U.S. application Ser. No.29/501,006 filed Aug. 29, 2014. This application is also acontinuation-in-part application of U.S. application Ser. No.29/514,256, filed Jan. 9, 2015, which is a continuation-in-partapplication of U.S. application Ser. No. 29/501,006, filed Aug. 29,2014. This application is also a continuation-in-part application ofU.S. application Ser. No. 29/515,013, filed Jan. 20, 2015, which is acontinuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No. 29/501,006, filed Aug.29, 2014. The disclosures of the referenced applications areincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to golf equipment, and moreparticularly, to golf club heads and methods to manufacturing golf clubheads.

BACKGROUND

Various materials (e.g., steel-based materials, titanium-basedmaterials, tungsten-based materials, etc.) may be used to manufacturegolf club heads. By using multiple materials to manufacture golf clubheads, the position of the center of gravity (CG) and/or the moment ofinertia (MOI) of the golf club heads may be optimized to produce certaintrajectory and spin rate of a golf ball.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a front view of a golf club head according to anembodiment of the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein.

FIG. 2 depicts a rear view of the example golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts a top view of the example golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 depicts a bottom view of the example golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 depicts a left view of the example golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 depicts a right view of the example golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 depicts a cross-sectional view of the example golf club head ofFIG. 1 along line 7-7.

FIG. 8 depicts a cross-sectional view of the example golf club head ofFIG. 1 along line 8-8.

FIG. 9 depicts a cross-sectional view of the example golf club head ofFIG. 1 along line 9-9.

FIG. 10 depicts another rear view of the example golf club head of FIG.1.

FIG. 11 depicts a top view of a weight portion associated with theexample golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 depicts a side view of a weight portion associated with theexample golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 depicts a side view of another weight portion associated withthe example golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 depicts a rear view of a body portion of the example golf clubhead of FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 depicts a cross-sectional view of a face portion of the examplegolf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 16 depicts a cross-sectional view of another face portion of theexample golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 17 depicts one manner in which the example golf club head describedherein may be manufactured.

FIG. 18 depicts another cross-sectional view of the example golf clubhead of FIG. 4 along line 18-18.

FIG. 19 depicts a top view of a golf club head according to anotherembodiment of the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein.

FIG. 20 depicts a cross-sectional view of the example golf club head ofFIG. 19 along line 20-20.

FIG. 21 depicts a front view of the example golf club head of FIG. 19.

FIG. 22 depicts a top view of a golf club head according to yet anotherembodiment of the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein.

FIG. 23 depicts a cross-sectional view of the example golf club head ofFIG. 22 along line 23-23.

FIG. 24 depicts a front view of the example golf club head of FIG. 22.

FIG. 25 depicts a top view of a golf club head according to yet anotherembodiment of the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein.

FIG. 26 depicts a cross-sectional view of the example golf club head ofFIG. 25 along line 26-26.

FIG. 27 depicts a cross-sectional view of the example golf club head ofFIG. 25 along line 26-26 according to another embodiment of theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein.

FIG. 28 depicts a front view of a face portion of the example golf clubhead of FIG. 1.

FIG. 29 depicts a back view of the face portion of FIG. 28.

FIG. 30 depicts a cross-sectional view of an example channel of the faceportion of FIG. 28.

FIG. 31 depicts a cross-sectional view of another example channel of theface portion of FIG. 28.

FIG. 32 depicts a cross-sectional view of yet another example channel ofthe face portion of FIG. 28.

FIG. 33 depicts a cross-sectional view of yet another example channel ofthe face portion of FIG. 28.

FIG. 34 depicts a back view of another example face portion of theexample golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 35 depicts a back view of yet another example face portion of theexample golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 36 depicts a back view of yet another example face portion of theexample golf club head of FIG. 1.

FIG. 37 depicts a cross-sectional view of the example golf club head ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 38 depicts another manner in which an example golf club headdescribed herein may be manufactured.

FIG. 39 depicts yet another manner in which an example golf club headdescribed herein may be manufactured.

FIG. 40 depicts a rear view of a golf club head according to anembodiment of the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein.

FIG. 41 depicts a rear view of the golf club head of FIG. 40.

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, the drawing figuresillustrate the general manner of construction, and descriptions anddetails of well-known features and techniques may be omitted to avoidunnecessarily obscuring the present disclosure. Additionally, elementsin the drawing figures may not be depicted to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements to help improve understanding of embodimentsof the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION

In general, golf club heads and methods to manufacture golf club headsare described herein. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

In the example of FIGS. 1-14, a golf club head 100 may include a bodyportion 110 (FIG. 14), and two or more weight portions, generally shownas a first set of weight portions 120 (e.g., shown as weight portions121, 122, 123, and 124) and a second set of weight portions 130 (e.g.,shown as weight portions 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136, and 137). Thebody portion 110 may include a toe portion 140, a heel portion 150, afront portion 160, a back portion 170, a top portion 180, and a soleportion 190. The body portion 110 may be made of a first materialwhereas the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130,respectively, may be made of a second material. The first and secondmaterials may be similar or different materials. For example, the bodyportion 110 may be partially or entirely made of a steel-based material(e.g., 17-4 PH stainless steel, Nitronic® 50 stainless steel, maragingsteel or other types of stainless steel), a titanium-based material, analuminum-based material (e.g., a high-strength aluminum alloy or acomposite aluminum alloy coated with a high-strength alloy), anycombination thereof, and/or other suitable types of materials. The firstand second sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively, may bepartially or entirely made of a high-density material such as atungsten-based material or other suitable types of materials.Alternatively, the body portion 110 and/or the first and second sets ofweight portions 120 and 130, respectively, may be partially or entirelymade of a non-metal material (e.g., composite, plastic, etc.). Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture are not limited in thisregard.

The golf club head 100 may be an iron-type golf club head (e.g., a1-iron, a 2-iron, a 3-iron, a 4-iron, a 5-iron, a 6-iron, a 7-iron, an8-iron, a 9-iron, etc.) or a wedge-type golf club head (e.g., a pitchingwedge, a lob wedge, a sand wedge, an n-degree wedge such as 44 degrees(°), 48°, 52°, 56°, 60°, etc.). Although FIGS. 1-10 may depict aparticular type of club head, the apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein may be applicable to other types of clubheads (e.g., a driver-type club head, a fairway wood-type club head, ahybrid-type club head, a putter-type club head, etc.). The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

The toe portion 140 and the heel portion 150 may be on opposite ends ofthe body portion 110. The heel portion 150 may include a hosel portion155 configured to receive a shaft (not shown) with a grip (not shown) onone end and the golf club head 100 on the opposite end of the shaft toform a golf club.

The front portion 160 may include a face portion 162 (e.g., a strikeface). The face portion 162 may include a front surface 164 and a backsurface 166. The front surface 164 may include one or more grooves 168extending between the toe portion 140 and the heel portion 150. Whilethe figures may depict a particular number of grooves, the apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may include moreor less grooves. The face portion 162 may be used to impact a golf ball(not shown). The face portion 162 may be an integral portion of the bodyportion 110. Alternatively, the face portion 162 may be a separate pieceor an insert coupled to the body portion 110 via various manufacturingmethods and/or processes (e.g., a bonding process such as adhesive, awelding process such as laser welding, a brazing process, a solderingprocess, a fusing process, a mechanical locking or connecting method,any combination thereof, or other suitable types of manufacturingmethods and/or processes). The face portion 162 may be associated with aloft plane that defines the loft angle of the golf club head 100. Theloft angle may vary based on the type of golf club (e.g., a long iron, amiddle iron, a short iron, a wedge, etc.). In one example, the loftangle may be between five degrees and seventy-five degrees. In anotherexample, the loft angle may be between twenty degrees and sixty degrees.The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein arenot limited in this regard.

As illustrated in FIG. 14, the back portion 170 may include a back wallportion 1410 with one or more exterior weight ports along a periphery ofthe back portion 170, generally shown as a first set of exterior weightports 1420 (e.g., shown as weight ports 1421, 1422, 1423, and 1424) anda second set of exterior weight ports 1430 (e.g., shown as weight ports1431, 1432, 1433, 1434, 1435, 1436, and 1437). Each exterior weight portmay be associated with a port diameter. In one example, the portdiameter may be about 0.25 inch (6.35 millimeters). Any two adjacentexterior weight ports of the first set of exterior weight ports 1420 maybe separated by less than the port diameter. In a similar manner, anytwo adjacent exterior weight ports of the second set of exterior weightports 1430 may be separated by less than the port diameter. The firstand second exterior weight ports 1420 and 1430 may be exterior weightports configured to receive one or more weight portions. In particular,each weight portion of the first set 120 (e.g., shown as weight portions121, 122, 123, and 124) may be disposed in a weight port located at orproximate to the toe portion 140 and/or the top portion 180 on the backportion 170. For example, the weight portion 121 may be partially orentirely disposed in the weight port 1421. In another example, theweight portion 122 may be disposed in a weight port 1422 located in atransition region between the top portion 180 and the toe portion 140(e.g., a top-and-toe transition region). Each weight portion of thesecond set 130 (e.g., shown as weight portions 131, 132, 133, 134, 135,136, and 137) may be disposed in a weight port located at or proximateto the toe portion 140 and/or the sole portion 190 on the back portion170. For example, the weight portion 135 may be partially or entirelydisposed in the weight port 1435. In another example, the weight portion136 may be disposed in a weight port 1436 located in a transition regionbetween the sole portion 190 and the toe portion 140 (e.g., asole-and-toe transition region). As described in detail below, the firstand second sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively, may becoupled to the back portion 170 of the body portion 110 with variousmanufacturing methods and/or processes (e.g., a bonding process, awelding process, a brazing process, a mechanical locking method, anycombination thereof, or other suitable manufacturing methods and/orprocesses).

Alternatively, the golf club head 100 may not include (i) the first setof weight portions 120, (ii) the second set of weight portions 130, or(iii) both the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130. Inparticular, the back portion 170 of the body portion 110 may not includeweight ports at or proximate to the top portion 170 and/or the soleportion 190. For example, the mass of the first set of weight portions120 (e.g., 3 grams) and/or the mass of the second set of weight portions130 (e.g., 16.8 grams) may be integral part(s) the body portion 110instead of separate weight portion(s). The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

The first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively,may have similar or different physical properties (e.g., color, shape,size, density, mass, volume, etc.). As a result, the first and secondsets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively, may contribute to theornamental design of the golf club head 100. In the illustrated exampleas shown in FIG. 11, each of the weight portions of the first and secondsets 120 and 130, respectively, may have a cylindrical shape (e.g., acircular cross section). Alternatively, each of the weight portions ofthe first set 120 may have a first shape (e.g., a cylindrical shape)whereas each of the weight portions of the second set 130 may have asecond shape (e.g., a cubical shape). In another example, the first setof weight portions 120 may include two or more weight portions withdifferent shapes (e.g., the weight portion 121 may be a first shapewhereas the weight portion 122 may be a second shape different from thefirst shape). Likewise, the second set of weight portions 130 may alsoinclude two or more weight portions with different shapes (e.g., theweight portion 131 may be a first shape whereas the weight portion 132may be a second shape different from the first shape). Although theabove examples may describe weight portions having a particular shape,the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein mayinclude weight portions of other suitable shapes (e.g., a portion of ora whole sphere, cube, cone, cylinder, pyramid, cuboidal, prism, frustum,or other suitable geometric shape). While the above examples and figuresmay depict multiple weight portions as a set of weight portions, eachset of the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130,respectively, may be a single piece of weight portion. In one example,the first set of weight portions 120 may be a single piece of weightportion instead of a series of four separate weight portions. In anotherexample, the second set of weight portions 130 may be a single piece ofweight portion instead of a series of seven separate weight portions.The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein arenot limited in this regard.

Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, for example, the first and second sets ofweight portions 120 and 130, respectively, may include threads,generally shown as 1210 and 1310, respectively, to engage withcorrespondingly configured threads in the weight ports to secure in theweight ports of the back portion 170 (generally shown as 1420 and 1430in FIG. 14). For example, each weight portion of the first and secondsets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively, may be a screw. Thefirst and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively, maynot be readily removable from the body portion 110 with or without atool. Alternatively, the first and second sets of weight portions 120and 130, respectively, may be readily removable (e.g., with a tool) sothat a relatively heavier or lighter weight portion may replace one ormore of the weight portions of the first and second sets 120 and 130,respectively. In another example, the first and second sets of weightportions 120 and 130, respectively, may be secured in the weight portsof the back portion 170 with epoxy or adhesive so that the first andsecond sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively, may not bereadily removable. In yet another example, the first and second sets ofweight portions 120 and 130, respectively, may be secured in the weightports of the back portion 170 with both epoxy and threads so that thefirst and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively, maynot be readily removable. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

As mentioned above, the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and130, respectively, may be similar in some physical properties butdifferent in other physical properties. As illustrated in FIGS. 11-13,for example, each of the weight portions of the first and second sets120 and 130, respectively, may have a diameter 1110 of about 0.25 inch(6.35 millimeters) but the first and second sets of weight portions 120and 130, respectively, may be different in height. In particular, eachof the weight portions of the first set 120 may be associated with afirst height 1220 (FIG. 12), and each of the weight portion of thesecond set 130 may be associated with a second height 1320 (FIG. 13).The first height 1220 may be relatively shorter than the second height1320. In one example, the first height 1220 may be about 0.125 inch(3.175 millimeters) whereas the second height 1320 may be about 0.3 inch(7.62 millimeters). In another example, the first height 1220 may beabout 0.16 inch (4.064 millimeters) whereas the second height 1320 maybe about 0.4 inch (10.16 millimeters). Alternatively, the first height1220 may be equal to or greater than the second height 1320. Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are notlimited in this regard.

To provide optimal perimeter weighting for the golf club head 100, thefirst set of weight portions 120 (e.g., weight portions 121, 122, 123,and 124) may be configured to counter-balance the weight of the hosel155. The second set of weight portions 130 (e.g., weight portions 131,132, 133, 134, 135, 136, and 137) may be configured to place the centerof gravity of the golf club head 100 at an optimal location. Turning toFIGS. 7-9, for example, the first and second sets of weight portions 120and 130, respectively, may be located away from the back surface 166 ofthe face portion 162 (e.g., not directly coupled to each other). Thatis, the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130,respectively, and the back surface 166 may be partially or entirelyseparated by an interior cavity 700 of the body portion 110. As shown inFIG. 14, for example, each exterior weight port of the first and secondsets of exterior weight ports 1420 and 1430 may include an opening(e.g., generally shown as 720 and 730) and a port wall (e.g., generallyshown as 725 and 735). The port walls 725 and 735 may be integralportions of the back wall portion 1410 (e.g., a section of the back wallportion 1410). Each of the openings 720 and 730 may be configured toreceive a weight portion such as weight portions 121 and 135,respectively. The opening 720 may be located at one end of the weightport 1421, and the port wall 725 may be located or proximate to at anopposite end of the weight port 1421. In a similar manner, the opening730 may be located at one end of the weight port 1435, and the port wall735 may be located at or proximate to an opposite end of the weight port1435. The port walls 725 and 735 may be separated from the face portion162 (e.g., separated by the interior cavity 700). As a result, thecenter of gravity (CG) of the golf club head 100 may be relativelyfarther back away from the face portion 162 and relatively lower towardsa ground plane (e.g., one shown as 1010 in FIG. 10) with the second setof weight portions 130 being away from the back surface 166 than if thesecond set of weight portions 130 were directly coupled to the backsurface 166. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

While the figures may depict weight ports with a particularcross-section shape, the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein may include weight ports with other suitablecross-section shapes. In one example, the weight ports of the firstand/or second sets of weight ports 1420 and 1430 may have U-likecross-section shape. In another example, the weight ports of the firstand/or second set of weight ports 1420 and 1430 may have V-likecross-section shape. One or more of the weight ports associated with thefirst set of weight portions 120 may have a different cross-sectionshape than one or more weight ports associated with the second set ofweight portions 130. For example, the weight port 1421 may have a U-likecross-section shape whereas the weight port 1435 may have a V-likecross-section shape. Further, two or more weight ports associated withthe first set of weight portions 120 may have different cross-sectionshapes. In a similar manner, two or more weight ports associated withthe second set of weight portions 130 may have different cross-sectionshapes. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture describedherein are not limited in this regard.

Referring back to FIG. 10, for example, the golf club head 100 may beassociated with a ground plane 1010, a horizontal midplane 1020, and atop plane 1030. In particular, the ground plane 1010 may be a tangentialplane to the sole portion 190 of the golf club head 100 when the golfclub head 100 is at an address position (e.g., the golf club head 100 isaligned to strike a golf ball). A top plane 1030 may be a tangentialplane to the top portion of the 180 of the golf club head 100 when thegolf club head 100 is at the address position. The ground and top planes1010 and 1030, respectively, may be substantially parallel to eachother. The horizontal midplane 1020 may be vertically halfway betweenthe ground and top planes 1010 and 1030, respectively.

The first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively,may be similar in mass (e.g., all of the weight portions of the firstand second sets 120 and 130, respectively, weigh about the same).Alternatively, the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130,respectively, may be different in mass individually or as an entire set.In particular, each of the weight portions of the first set 120 (e.g.,shown as 121, 122, 123, and 124) may have relatively less mass than anyof the weight portions of the second set 130 (e.g., shown as 131, 132,133, 134, 135, 136, and 137). For example, the second set of weightportions 130 may account for more than 50% of the total mass fromexterior weight portions of the golf club head 100. As a result, thegolf club head 100 may be configured to have at least 50% of the totalmass from exterior weight portions disposed below the horizontalmidplane 1020. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

In one example, the golf club head 100 may have a mass in the range ofabout 220 grams to about 330 grams based on the type of golf club (e.g.,a 4-iron versus a lob wedge). The body portion 110 may have a mass inthe range of about 200 grams to about 310 grams with the first andsecond sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively, having a massof about 20 grams (e.g., a total mass from exterior weight portions).Each of the weight portions of the first set 120 may have a mass ofabout one gram (1.0 g) whereas each of the weight portions of the secondset 130 may have a mass of about 2.4 grams. The sum of the mass of thefirst set of weight portions 120 may be about 3 grams whereas the sum ofthe mass of the first set of weight portions 130 may be about 16.8grams. The total mass of the second set of weight portions 130 may weighmore than five times as much as the total mass of the first set ofweight portions 120 (e.g., a total mass of the second set of weightportions 130 of about 16.8 grams versus a total mass of the first set ofweight portions 120 of about 3 grams). The golf club head 100 may have atotal mass of 19.8 grams from the first and second sets of weightportions 120 and 130, respectively (e.g., sum of 3 grams from the firstset of weight portions 120 and 16.8 grams from the second set of weightportions 130). Accordingly, the first set of weight portions 120 mayaccount for about 15% of the total mass from exterior weight portions ofthe golf club head 100 whereas the second set of weight portions 130 maybe account for about 85% of the total mass from exterior weight portionsof the golf club head 100. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

By coupling the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130,respectively, to the body portion 110 (e.g., securing the first andsecond sets of weight portions 120 and 130 in the weight ports on theback portion 170), the location of the center of gravity (CG) and themoment of inertia (MOI) of the golf club head 100 may be optimized. Inparticular, the first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130,respectively, may lower the location of the CG towards the sole portion190 and further back away from the face portion 162. Further, the MOImay be higher as measured about a vertical axis extending through the CG(e.g., perpendicular to the ground plane 1010). The MOI may also behigher as measured about a horizontal axis extending through the CG(e.g., extending towards the toe and heel portions 150 and 160,respectively, of the golf club head 100). As a result, the club head 100may provide a relatively higher launch angle and a relatively lower spinrate than a golf club head without the first and second sets of weightportions 120 and 130, respectively. The apparatus, methods, and articlesof manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

Alternatively, two or more weight portions in the same set may bedifferent in mass. In one example, the weight portion 121 of the firstset 120 may have a relatively lower mass than the weight portion 122 ofthe first set 120. In another example, the weight portion 131 of thesecond set 130 may have a relatively lower mass than the weight portion135 of the second set 130. With relatively greater mass at thetop-and-toe transition region and/or the sole-and-toe transition region,more weight may be distributed away from the center of gravity (CG) ofthe golf club head 100 to increase the moment of inertia (MOI) about thevertical axis through the CG.

Although the figures may depict the weight portions as separate andindividual parts, each set of the first and second sets of weightportions 120 and 130, respectively, may be a single piece of weightportion. In one example, all of the weight portions of the first set 120(e.g., shown as 121, 122, 123, and 124) may be combined into a singlepiece of weight portion (e.g., a first weight portion). In a similarmanner, all of the weight portions of the second set 130 (e.g., 131,132, 133, 134, 135, 136, and 137) may be combined into a single piece ofweight portion as well (e.g., a second weight portion). In this example,the golf club head 100 may have only two weight portions. While thefigures may depict a particular number of weight portions, theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein mayinclude more or less number of weight portions. In one example, thefirst set of weight portions 120 may include two separate weightportions instead of three separate weight portions as shown in thefigures. In another example, the second set of weight portions 130 mayinclude five separate weight portions instead of seven separate weightportions a shown in the figures. Alternatively as mentioned above, theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may notinclude any separate weight portions (e.g., the body portion 110 may bemanufactured to include the mass of the separate weight portions asintegral part(s) of the body portion 110). The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

Referring back to FIGS. 7-9, for example, the body portion 110 may be ahollow body including the interior cavity 700 extending between thefront portion 160 and the back portion 170. Further, the interior cavity700 may extend between the top portion 180 and the sole portion 190. Theinterior cavity 700 may be associated with a cavity height 750 (H_(C)),and the body portion 110 may be associated with a body height 850(H_(B)). While the cavity height 750 and the body height 850 may varybetween the toe and heel portions 140 and 150, the cavity height 750 maybe at least 50% of a body height 850 (H_(C)>0.5*H_(B)). For example, thecavity height 750 may vary between 70-85% of the body height 850. Withthe cavity height 750 of the interior cavity 700 being greater than 50%of the body height 850, the golf club head 100 may produce relativelymore consistent feel, sound, and/or result when the golf club head 100strikes a golf ball via the face portion 162 than a golf club head witha cavity height of less than 50% of the body height. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

In one example, the interior cavity 700 may be unfilled (i.e., emptyspace). The body portion 100 with the interior cavity 700 may weightabout 100 grams less than the body portion 100 without the interiorcavity 700. Alternatively, the interior cavity 700 may be partially orentirely filled with an elastic polymer or elastomer material (e.g., aviscoelastic urethane polymer material such as Sorbothane® materialmanufactured by Sorbothane, Inc., Kent, Ohio), a thermoplastic elastomermaterial (TPE), a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU), and/orother suitable types of materials to absorb shock, isolate vibration,and/or dampen noise. For example, at least 50% of the interior cavity700 may be filled with a TPE material to absorb shock, isolatevibration, and/or dampen noise when the golf club head 100 strikes agolf ball via the face portion 162. The apparatus, methods, and articlesof manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

Turning to FIG. 15, for example, the face portion 162 may include afirst thickness 1510 (T₁), and a second thickness 1520 (T₂). The firstthickness 1510 may be a thickness of a section of the face portion 162adjacent to a groove 168 whereas the second thickness 1520 may be athickness of a section of the face portion 162 below the groove 168. Forexample, the first thickness 1510 may be a maximum distance between thefront surface 164 and the back surface 166. The second thickness 1520may be based on the groove 168. In particular, the groove 168 may have agroove depth 1525 (D_(groove)). The second thickness 1520 may be amaximum distance between the bottom of the groove 168 and the backsurface 166. The sum of the second thickness 1520 and the groove depth1525 may be substantially equal to the first thickness 1510 (e.g.,T₂+D_(groove)=T₁). Accordingly, the second thickness 1520 may be lessthan the first thickness 1510 (e.g., T₂<T₁).

To lower and/or move the CG of the golf club head 100 further back,weight from the front portion 160 of the golf club head 100 may beremoved by using a relatively thinner face portion 162. For example, thefirst thickness 1510 may be about 0.075 inch (1.905 millimeters) (e.g.,T₁=0.075 inch). With the support of the back wall portion 1410 to formthe interior cavity 700 and filling at least a portion of the interiorcavity 700 with an elastic polymer material, the face portion 162 may berelatively thinner (e.g., T₁<0.075 inch) without degrading thestructural integrity, sound, and/or feel of the golf club head 100. Inone example, the first thickness 1510 may be less than or equal to 0.060inch (1.524 millimeters) (e.g., T1≦0.060 inch). In another example, thefirst thickness 1510 may be less than or equal to 0.040 inch (1.016millimeters) (e.g., T₁≦0.040 inch). Based on the type of material(s)used to form the face portion 162 and/or the body portion 110, the faceportion 162 may be even thinner with the first thickness 1510 being lessthan or equal to 0.030 inch (0.762 millimeters) (e.g., T₁≦0.030 inch).The groove depth 1525 may be greater than or equal to the secondthickness 1520 (e.g., D_(groove)≧T₂). In one example, the groove depth1525 may be about 0.020 inch (0.508 millimeters) (e.g., D_(groove)=0.020inch). Accordingly, the second thickness 1520 may be about 0.010 inch(0.254 millimeters) (e.g., T₂=0.010 inch). In another example, thegroove depth 1525 may be about 0.015 inch (0.381 millimeters), and thesecond thickness 1520 may be about 0.015 inch (e.g., D_(groove)=T₂=0.015inch). Alternatively, the groove depth 1525 may be less than the secondthickness 1520 (e.g., D_(groove)<T₂). Without the support of the backwall portion 1410 and the elastic polymer material to fill in theinterior cavity 700, a golf club head may not be able to withstandmultiple impacts by a golf ball on a face portion. In contrast to thegolf club head 100 as described herein, a golf club head with arelatively thin face portion but without the support of the back wallportion 1410 and the elastic polymer material to fill in the interiorcavity 700 (e.g., a cavity-back golf club head) may produce unpleasantsound (e.g., a tinny sound) and/or feel during impact with a golf ball.The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein arenot limited in this regard.

Based on manufacturing processes and methods used to form the golf clubhead 100, the face portion 162 may include additional material at orproximate to a periphery of the face portion 162. Accordingly, the faceportion 162 may also include a third thickness 1530, and a chamferportion 1540. The third thickness 1530 may be greater than either thefirst thickness 1510 or the second thickness 1520 (e.g., T₃>T₁>T₂). Inparticular, the face portion 162 may be coupled to the body portion 110by a welding process. For example, the first thickness 1510 may be about0.030 inch (0.762 millimeters), the second thickness 1520 may be about0.015 inch (0.381 millimeters), and the third thickness 1530 may beabout 0.050 inch (1.27 millimeters). Accordingly, the chamfer portion1540 may accommodate some of the additional material when the faceportion 162 is welded to the body portion 110.

As illustrated in FIG. 16, for example, the face portion 162 may includea reinforcement section, generally shown as 1605, below one or moregrooves 168. In one example, the face portion 162 may include areinforcement section 1605 below each groove. Alternatively, faceportion 162 may include the reinforcement section 1605 below somegrooves (e.g., every other groove) or below only one groove. The faceportion 162 may include a first thickness 1610, a second thickness 1620,a third thickness 1630, and a chamfer portion 1640. The groove 168 mayhave a groove depth 1625. The reinforcement section 168 may define thesecond thickness 1620. The first and second thicknesses 1610 and 1620,respectively, may be substantially equal to each other (e.g., T₁=T₂). Inone example, the first and second thicknesses 1610 and 1620,respectively, may be about 0.030 inch (0.762 millimeters) (e.g.,T₁=T₂=0.030 inch). The groove depth 1625 may be about 0.015 inch (0.381millimeters), and the third thickness 1630 may be about 0.050 inch (1.27millimeters). The groove 168 may also have a groove width. The width ofthe reinforcement section 1605 may be greater than or equal to thegroove width. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

Alternatively, the face portion 162 may vary in thickness at and/orbetween the top portion 180 and the sole portion 190. In one example,the face portion 162 may be relatively thicker at or proximate to thetop portion 180 than at or proximate to the sole portion 190 (e.g.,thickness of the face portion 162 may taper from the top portion 180towards the sole portion 190). In another example, the face portion 162may be relatively thicker at or proximate to the sole portion 190 thanat or proximate to the top portion 180 (e.g., thickness of the faceportion 162 may taper from the sole portion 190 towards the top portion180). In yet another example, the face portion 162 may be relativelythicker between the top portion 180 and the sole portion 190 than at orproximate to the top portion 180 and the sole portion 190 (e.g.,thickness of the face portion 162 may have a bell-shaped contour). Theapparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are notlimited in this regard.

Different from other golf club head designs, the interior cavity 700 ofthe body portion 110 and the location of the first and second sets ofweight portions 120 and 130, respectively, along the perimeter of thegolf club head 100 may result in a golf ball traveling away from theface portion 162 at a relatively higher ball launch angle and arelatively lower spin rate. As a result, the golf ball may travelfarther (i.e., greater total distance, which includes carry and rolldistances).

FIG. 17 depicts one manner in which the example golf club head describedherein may be manufactured. In the example of FIG. 17, the process 1700may begin with providing two or more weight portions, generally shown asthe first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively(block 1710). The first and second sets of weight portions 120 and 130,respectively, may be made of a first material such as a tungsten-basedmaterial. In one example, the weight portions of the first and secondsets 120 and 130, respectively, may be tungsten-alloy screws.

The process 1700 may provide a body portion 110 having the face portion162, the interior cavity 700, and the back portion 170 with two or moreexterior weight ports, generally shown as 1420 and 1430 (block 1720).The body portion 110 may be made of a second material, which isdifferent than the first material. The body portion 110 may bemanufacture using an investment casting process, a billet forgingprocess, a stamping process, a computer numerically controlled (CNC)machining process, a die casting process, any combination thereof, orother suitable manufacturing processes. In one example, the body portion110 may be made of 17-4 PH stainless steel using a casting process. Inanother example, the body portion 110 may be made of other suitable typeof stainless steel (e.g., Nitronic® 50 stainless steel manufactured byAK Steel Corporation, West Chester, Ohio) using a forging process. Byusing Nitronic® 50 stainless steel to manufacture the body portion 110,the golf club head 100 may be relatively stronger and/or more resistantto corrosion than golf club heads made from other types of steel. Eachweight port of the body portion 110 may include an opening and a portwall. For example, the weight port 1421 may include the opening 720 andthe port wall 725 with the opening 720 and the port wall 725 being onopposite ends of each other. The interior cavity 700 may separate theport wall 725 of the weight port 1421 and the back surface 166 of theface portion 162. In a similar manner, the weight port 1835 may includethe opening 730 and the port wall 735 with the opening 730 and the portwall 735 being on opposite ends of each other. The interior cavity 700may separate the port wall 735 of the weight port 1435 and the backsurface 166 of the face portion 162.

The process 1700 may couple each of the first and second sets of weightportions 120 and 130 into one of the two or more exterior weight ports(blocks 1730). In one example, the process 1700 may insert and securethe weight portion 121 in the exterior weight port 1421, and the weightportion 135 in the exterior weight portion 1435. The process 1700 mayuse various manufacturing methods and/or processes to secure the firstand second sets of weight portions 120 and 130, respectively, in theexterior weight ports such as the weight ports 1421 and 1435 (e.g.,epoxy, welding, brazing, mechanical lock(s), any combination thereof,etc.).

The process 1700 may partially or entirely fill the interior cavity 700with an elastic polymer material (e.g., Sorbothane® material) (block1740). In one example, at least 50% of the interior cavity 700 may befilled with the elastic polymer material. As mentioned above, theelastic polymer material may absorb shock, isolate vibration, and/ordampen noise in response to the golf club head 100 striking a golf ball.In addition or alternatively, the interior cavity 700 may be filled witha thermoplastic elastomer material and/or a thermoplastic polyurethanematerial. As illustrated in FIG. 18, for example, the golf club head 100may include one or more weight ports (e.g., one shown as 1431 in FIG.14) with a first opening 1830 and a second opening 1835. The secondopening 1835 may be used to access the interior cavity 700. In oneexample, the process 1700 (FIG. 17) may fill the interior cavity 700with an elastic polymer material by injecting the elastic polymermaterial into the interior cavity 700 from the first opening 1830 viathe second opening 1835. The first and second openings 1830 and 1835,respectively, may be same or different in size and/or shape. While theabove example may describe and depict a particular weight port with asecond opening, any other weight ports of the golf club head 100 mayinclude a second opening (e.g., the weight port 720). The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

Referring back to FIG. 17, the example process 1700 is merely providedand described in conjunction with other figures as an example of one wayto manufacture the golf club head 100. While a particular order ofactions is illustrated in FIG. 17, these actions may be performed inother temporal sequences. For example, two or more actions depicted inFIG. 17 may be performed sequentially, concurrently, or simultaneously.In one example, blocks 1710, 1720, 1730, and/or 1740 may be performedsimultaneously or concurrently. Although FIG. 17 depicts a particularnumber of blocks, the process may not perform one or more blocks. In oneexample, the interior cavity 700 may not be filled (i.e., block 1740 maynot be performed). The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

While the above examples may described an iron-type or a wedge-type golfclub head, the apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture describedherein may be applicable to other types of golf club heads. Referring toFIGS. 19-21, for example, a golf club head 1900 may include a bodyportion 1910 and a cavity wall portion 1920. The golf club head 1900 mayhave a club head volume greater than or equal to 300 cubic centimeters(cm³ or cc). In one example, the golf club head 1900 may be about 460cc. Alternatively, the golf club head 1900 may have a club head volumeless than or equal to 300 cc. For example, the golf club head 1900 mayhave a club head volume between 100 cc and 200 cc. The club head volumeof the golf club head 1900 may be determined by using the weighted waterdisplacement method (i.e., Archimedes Principle). For example,procedures defined by golf standard organizations and/or governingbodies such as the United States Golf Association (USGA) and/or theRoyal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews (R&A) may be used formeasuring the club head volume of the golf club head 100. Although FIGS.19-21 may depict a particular type of club head (e.g., a fairwaywood-type club head), the apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein may be applicable to other types of clubhead (e.g., a driver-type club head, a hybrid-type club head, aniron-type club head, a putter-type club head, etc.). The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

The body portion 1910 may include a toe portion 1940, a heel portion1950, a front portion 1960, a rear portion 1970, a top portion 1980(e.g., a crown portion), and a bottom portion 1990 (e.g., a soleportion). The body portion 1910 may be a hollow body made partially orentirely of an aluminum-based material, a magnesium-type material, asteel-based material, a titanium-based material, any other suitablematerial, or any combination thereof. In another example, the bodyportion 1910 may be made partially or entirely of a non-metal materialsuch as a ceramic material, a composite material, any other suitablematerial, or any combination thereof. The front portion 1960 may includea face portion 1962 (e.g., a strike face). The face portion 1962 mayinclude a front surface 1964 and a back surface 1966. The front surface1964 may include a plurality of grooves, generally shown as 2110 in FIG.21.

The cavity wall portion 1920 may form a first interior cavity 2010 and asecond interior cavity 2020 within the body portion 1910. For example,the cavity wall portion 1920 may be made partially or entirely of analuminum-based material, a steel-based material, any other suitablematerial, or any combination thereof. In another example, the cavitywall portion 1920 may be made partially or entirely of a non-metalmaterial such as a ceramic material, a composite material, any othersuitable material, or any combination thereof. The first interior cavity2010 may be associated with a first volume, and the second interiorcavity 2020 may be associated with a second volume. In one example, thefirst volume may be less than the second volume. Further, the firstvolume may be less than or equal to 50% of the second volume.

As illustrated in FIG. 20, for example, the cavity wall portion 1920 mayextend from the back surface 1966 of the face portion 1962. In oneexample, the cavity wall portion 1920 may extend no more than one inchfrom the back surface 1966. In another example, the cavity wall portion1920 may extend no more than two inches from the back surface 1966. Thecavity wall portion 1920 may be a single curved wall section. Inparticular, the cavity wall portion 1920 may have a convex arc profilerelative to the back surface 1966 (e.g., C shape) to form a dome-likestructure with an elliptical base (e.g., FIG. 21) or a circular base onthe back surface 1966. In another example, the cavity wall portion 1920may form a cone-like structure or a cylinder-like structure with thebody portion 1910. Alternatively, the cavity wall portion 1920 may be aconcave arc profile relative to the back surface 1966. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

The first interior cavity 2010 may be partially or entirely filled withan elastic polymer or elastomer material (e.g., a viscoelastic urethanepolymer material such as Sorbothane® material manufactured bySorbothane, Inc., Kent, Ohio), a thermoplastic elastomer material (TPE),a thermoplastic polyurethane material (TPU), and/or other suitable typesof materials to absorb shock, isolate vibration, dampen noise, and/orprovide structural support. The elastic polymer material may be injectedinto the first interior cavity 2010 via an injection molding process viaa port on the face portion 1962. For example, at least 50% of the firstinterior cavity 2010 may be filled with a TPE material to absorb shock,isolate vibration, dampen noise, and/or provide structural support whenthe golf club head 1900 strikes a golf ball via the face portion 1962.With the support of the cavity wall portion 1920 to form the firstinterior cavity 2010 and filling at least a portion of the firstinterior cavity 2010 with an elastic polymer material, the face portion1962 may be relatively thin without degrading the structural integrity,sound, and/or feel of the golf club head 1900. In one example, the faceportion 1962 may have a thickness of less than or equal to 0.075 inch(e.g., a distance between the front surface 1964 and the back surface1966). In another example, the face portion 1962 may have a thickness ofless than or equal to 0.060 inch. In yet another example, the faceportion 1962 may have a thickness of less than or equal to 0.050 inch.Further, the face portion 1962 may have a thickness of less than orequal to 0.030 inch. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

The cavity wall portion 1920 may include multiple sections. Turning toFIGS. 22-24, for example, a golf club head 2200 may include a bodyportion 2210 and a cavity wall portion 2220. The body portion 2210 mayinclude a toe portion 2240, a heel portion 2250, a front portion 2260, arear portion 2270, a top portion 2280 (e.g., a crown portion), and abottom portion 2290 (e.g., a sole portion). The front portion 2260 mayinclude a face portion 2262 (e.g., a strike face) with a front surface2264 and a back surface 2266. The cavity wall portion 2220 may extendfrom the back surface 2266 to form a first interior cavity 2310 and asecond interior cavity 2320 within the body portion 2210. The cavitywall portion 2220 may include two or more wall sections, generally shownas 2330, 2340, and 2350 in FIG. 23. The cavity wall portion 2220 mayform a truncated pyramid-like structure with a rectangular base (e.g.,FIG. 24) or a square base on the back surface 2266. Alternatively, thecavity wall portion 2220 may form a cuboid-like structure (i.e., with arectangular base) or a cuboid-like structure (i.e., with a square base)on the back surface 2266. In another example, the cavity wall portion2220 may form a square-based, pyramid-like structure on the back surface2266. In yet another example, the cavity wall portion 2220 may form atriangular-based, pyramid-like structure or a triangular prism-likestructure on the back surface 2266. Similar to the first interior cavity2010 (FIGS. 19-21), the first interior cavity 2310 may be partially orentirely filled with an elastic polymer or elastomer material (e.g., aTPE material, a TPU material, etc.). The elastic polymer material may beinjected into the first interior cavity 2310 via an injection moldingprocess via a port on the face portion 2262. The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

As illustrated in FIGS. 25 and 26, for example, a golf club head 2500may include a body portion 2510 and a cavity wall portion 2520. The bodyportion 2510 may include a toe portion 2540, a heel portion 2550, afront portion 2560, a rear portion 2570, a top portion 2580 (e.g., acrown portion), and a bottom portion 2590 (e.g., a sole portion). Thefront portion 2560 may include a face portion 2562 (e.g., a strike face)with a front surface 2564 and a back surface 2566. The face portion 2562may be associated with a loft plane 2605 that defines the loft angle ofthe golf club head 2500.

The cavity wall portion 2520 may be a single flat wall section. Inparticular, the cavity wall portion 2520 may extend between the toeportion 2540 and the heel portion 2550 and between the top portion 2580and the bottom portion 2590 to form a first interior cavity 2610 and asecond interior cavity 2620 within the body portion 2510. The cavitywall portion 2520 may be parallel or substantially parallel to the loftplane 2605. Alternatively as shown in FIG. 27, a cavity wall portion2720 may be perpendicular or substantially perpendicular to a groundplane 2730. Similar to the first interior cavities 2010 (FIGS. 19-21)and 2310 (FIGS. 22-24), the first interior cavity 2610 may be partiallyor entirely filled with an elastic polymer or elastomer material. Theelastic polymer material may be injected into the first interior cavity2610 via an injection molding process via a port on the face portion2562 and/or the bottom portion 2590. The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

Alternatively, the cavity wall portion 2520 may extend between thebottom portion 2590 and a top-and-front transition region (i.e., atransition region between the top portion 2580 and the front portion2570) so that the cavity wall portion 2520 and the loft plane 2630 maynot be parallel to each other. In another example, the cavity wallportion 2520 may extend between the top portion 2580 and abottom-and-front transition region (i.e., a transition region betweenthe bottom portion 2590 and the front portion 2570) so that the cavitywall portion 2520 and the loft plane 2630 may be not parallel to eachother. Although FIGS. 25-27, may depict the cavity wall portions 2520and 2720 being flat or substantially flat, the cavity wall portions 2520and/or 2720 may be concaved or convexed relatively to the face portion2562. The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture describedherein are not limited in this regard.

While above examples may describe a cavity wall portion dividing aninterior cavity of a hollow body portion to form two separate interiorcavities with one interior cavity partially or entirely filled with anelastic polymer material, the apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein may include two or more cavity wallportions dividing an interior cavity of a hollow body portion to formthree or more separate interior cavities with at least two interiorcavities partially or entirely filled with an elastic polymer material.In one example, one interior cavity may be partially or entirely filledwith a TPE material whereas another interior cavity may be partially orentirely filled with a TPU material. The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

Referring back to FIGS. 1-14, the face portion 162 may include anon-smooth back surface to improve adhesion and/or mitigate delaminationbetween the face portion 162 and the elastic polymer material used tofill the interior cavity 700 (e.g., FIG. 7). Various methods and/orprocesses such as an abrasive blasting process (e.g., a bead blastingprocess, a sand blasting process, other suitable blasting process, orany combination thereof) and/or a milling (machining) process may beused to form the back surface 166 into a non-smooth surface. Forexample, the back surface 166 may have with a surface roughness (Ra)ranging from 0.5 to 250 μin (0.012 to 6.3 μm). The apparatus, methods,and articles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.

As illustrated in FIGS. 28-30, for example, a face portion 2800 mayinclude the front surface 2810, and the back surface 2910. The frontsurface 2810 may include one or more grooves, generally shown as 2820,extending longitudinally across the front surface 2810 (e.g., extendingbetween the toe portion 140 and the heel portion 150 of FIG. 1). Thefront surface 2810 may be used to impact a golf ball (not shown).

The back surface 2910 may also include one or more channels, generallyshown as 2920. The channels 2920 may extend longitudinally across theback surface 2910. The channels 2920 may be parallel or substantiallyparallel to each other. The channels 2920 may engage with the elasticpolymer material used to fill the interior cavity 700, and serve as amechanical locking mechanism between the face portion 2800 and theelastic polymer material. In particular, a channel 3000 may include anopening 3010, a bottom section 3020, and two sidewalls, generally shownas 3030 and 3032. The bottom section 3020 may be parallel orsubstantially parallel to the back surface 2910. The two sidewalls 3030and 3032 may be converging sidewalls (i.e., the two sidewalls 3030 and3032 may not be parallel to each other). The bottom section 3020 and thesidewalls 3030 and 3032 may form two undercut portions, generally shownas 3040 and 3042. That is, a width 3015 at the opening 3010 may be lessthan a width 3025 of the bottom section 3020. A cross section of thechannel 3000 may be symmetrical about an axis 3050. While FIG. 30 maydepict flat or substantially flat sidewalls, the two sidewalls 3030 and3032 may be curved (e.g., convex relative to each other).

Instead of flat or substantially flat sidewalls as shown in FIG. 30, achannel may include other types of sidewalls. As illustrated in FIG. 31,for example, a channel 3100 may include an opening 3110, a bottomsection 3120, and two sidewalls, generally shown as 3130 and 3132. Thebottom section 3120 may be parallel or substantially parallel to theback surface 2910. The two sidewalls 3130 and 3132 may be steppedsidewalls. The bottom section 3120 and the sidewalls 3130 and 3132 mayform two undercut portions, generally shown as 3140 and 3142. That is, awidth 3115 at the opening 3110 may be less than a width 3125 of thebottom section 3120. A cross section of the channel 3100 may besymmetrical about an axis 3150.

Instead of being symmetrical as shown in FIGS. 30 and 31, a channel maybe asymmetrical. As illustrated in FIG. 32, for another example, achannel 3200 may include an opening 3210, a bottom section 3220, and twosidewalls, generally shown as 3230 and 3232. The bottom section 3220 maybe parallel or substantially parallel to the back surface 2910. Thebottom section 3220 and the sidewall 3230 may form an undercut portion3240.

Referring to FIG. 33, for example, a channel 3300 may include an opening3310, a bottom section 3320, and two sidewalls, generally shown as 3330and 3332. The bottom section 3320 may not be parallel or substantiallyparallel to the back surface 2910. The two sidewalls 3330 and 3332 maybe parallel or substantially parallel to each other but one sidewall maybe longer than the other sidewall. The bottom section 3320 and thesidewall 3332 may form an undercut portion 3340.

In the example as shown in FIG. 34, a face portion 3400 may include aback surface 3410 with one or more channels, generally shown as 3420,extending laterally across the back surface 3410 (e.g., extendingbetween the top portion 180 and the sole portion 190 of FIG. 1). Inanother example as depicted in FIG. 35, a face portion 3500 may includea back surface 3510 with one or more channels, generally shown as 3520,extending diagonally across the back surface 3510. Alternatively, a faceportion may include a combination of channels extending in differentdirections across a back surface of the face portion (e.g., extendinglongitudinally, laterally, and/or diagonally). Turning to FIG. 36, foryet another example, a face portion 3600 may include a back surface 3610with one or more channels, generally shown as 3620, 3630, and 3640,extending in different directions across the back surface 3610. Inparticular, the face portion 3600 may include a plurality of channels3620 extending longitudinally across the back surface 3610, a pluralityof channels 3630 extending laterally across the back surface 3610, and aplurality of channels 3640 extending diagonally across the back surface3610.

In addition or alternatively, the golf club head 100 may include abonding agent to improve adhesion and/or mitigate delamination betweenthe face portion 162 and the elastic polymer material used to fill theinterior cavity 700 of the golf club head 100 (e.g., FIG. 7). Referringto FIG. 37, for example, the golf club head 100 may include the faceportion 162, a bonding portion 3710, and an elastic polymer material3720. In one example, the bonding portion 3710 may be low-viscosity,organic, solvent-based solutions and/or dispersions of polymers andother reactive chemicals such as MEGUM™, ROBOND™, and/or THIXON™materials manufactured by the Dow Chemical Company, Auburn Hills, Mich.In another example, the bonding portion 3710 may be LOCTITE® materialsmanufactured by Henkel Corporation, Rocky Hill, Conn. The bondingportion 3710 may be applied to the back surface 166 to bond the elasticpolymer material 3720 to the face portion 162 (e.g., extending betweenthe back surface 166 and the elastic polymer material 3720). Forexample, the bonding portion 3710 may be applied when the interiorcavity 700 is filled with the elastic polymer material 3720 via aninjection-molding process. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture are not limited in this regard.

FIG. 38 depicts one manner in which the interior cavity 700 of the golfclub head 100 or any of the golf club heads described herein ispartially or entirely filled with an elastic polymer material or anelastomer material. The process 3800 may begin with heating the golfclub head 100 to a certain temperature (block 3810). In one example, thegolf club head 100 may be heated to a temperature ranging between 150°C. to 250° C., which may depend on factors such as the vaporizationtemperature of the elastic polymer material to be injected in theinterior cavity 700. The elastic polymer material may then be heated toa certain temperature (block 3820). The elastic polymer material may bea non-foaming and injection-moldable thermoplastic elastomer (TPE)material. Accordingly, the elastic polymer material may be heated toreach a liquid or a flowing state prior to being injected into theinterior cavity 700. The temperature to which the elastic polymermaterial may be heated may depend on the type of elastic polymermaterial used to partially or fully fill the interior cavity 700. Theheated elastic polymer material may be injected into the interior cavity700 to partially or fully fill the interior cavity 700 (block 3830). Theelastic polymer material may be injected into the interior cavity 700from one or more of the weight ports described herein (e.g., one or moreweight ports of the first and second sets of weight ports 1420 and 1430,respectively, shown in FIG. 14). One or more other weight ports mayallow the air inside the interior cavity 700 displaced by the elasticpolymer material to vent from the interior cavity 700. In one example,the golf club head 100 may be oriented horizontally as shown in FIG. 14during the injection molding process. The elastic polymer material maybe injected into the interior cavity 700 from weight ports 1431 and1432. The weight ports 1421, 1422 and/or 1423 may serve as air ports forventing the displaced air from the interior cavity 700. Thus, regardlessof the orientation of the golf club head 100 during the injectionmolding process, the elastic polymer material may be injected into theinterior cavity 700 from one or more lower positioned weight ports whileone or more upper positioned weight ports may serve as air vents. Themold (i.e., the golf club head 100) may then be cooled passively (e.g.,at room temperature) or actively so that the elastic polymer materialreaches a solid state and adheres to the back surface 166 of the faceportion 162. The elastic polymer material may directly adhere to theback surface 166 of the face portion 162. Alternatively, the elasticpolymer material may adhere to the back surface 166 of the face portion162 with the aid of the one or more structures on the back surface 166and/or a bonding agent described herein (e.g., the bonding portion 3710shown in FIG. 37). The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturedescribed herein are not limited in this regard.

As discussed above, the elastic polymer material may be heated to aliquid state (i.e., non-foaming) and solidifies after being injectionmolded in the interior cavity 700. An elastic polymer material with alow modulus of elasticity may provide vibration and noise dampening forthe face portion 162 when the face portion 162 impacts a golf ball. Forexample, an elastic polymer material that foams when heated may providevibration and noise dampening. However, such a foaming elastic polymermaterial may not have sufficient rigidity to provide structural supportto a relatively thin face portion because of possible excessivedeflection and/or compression of the elastic polymer material whenabsorbing the impact of a golf ball. In one example, the elastic polymermaterial that is injection molded in the interior cavity 700 may have arelatively high modulus of elasticity to provide structural support tothe face portion 162 and yet elastically deflect to absorb the impactforces experienced by the face portion 162 when striking a golf ball.Thus, a non-foaming and injection moldable elastic polymer material witha relatively high modulus of elasticity may be used for partially orfully filling the interior cavity 700 to provide structural support andreinforcement for the face portion 162 in addition to providingvibration and noise dampening. That is, the non-foaming and injectionmoldable elastic polymer material may be a structural support portionfor the face portion 162. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture are not limited in this regard.

FIG. 39 depicts one manner in which a bonding agent as described hereinmay be applied to a golf club head prior to partially of fully injectingan elastic polymer in the interior cavity 700. In the example of FIG.39, the process 3900 may begin with injecting a bonding agent on theback surface 166 of the face portion 162 (block 3910). The bonding agentmay be injected on the back surface 166 prior to or after heating thegolf club head as described above depending on the properties of thebonding agent. The bonding agent may be injected through one or more ofthe first set of weight ports 1420 and/or the second set of weight ports1430. The bonding agent may be injected on the back surface 166 throughseveral or all of the first set of weight ports 1420 and the second setof weight ports 1430. For example, an injection instrument such as anozzle or a needle may be inserted into each weight port until the tipor outlet of the instrument is near the back surface 166. The bondingagent may then be injected on the back surface 166 from the outlet ofthe instrument. Additionally, the instrument may be moved, rotatedand/or swiveled while inside the interior cavity 700 so that the bondingagent is injected onto an area of the back surface 166 surrounding theinstrument. For example, the outlet of the injection instrument may bemoved in a circular pattern while inside a weight port to inject thebonding agent in a corresponding circular pattern on the back surface166. Each of the first set of weight ports 1420 and the second set ofweight ports 1430 may be utilized to inject a bonding agent on the backsurface 166. However, utilizing all of first weight ports 1420 and/orthe second set of weight ports 1430 may not be necessary. For example,using every other adjacent weight port may be sufficient to inject abonding agent on the entire back surface 166. In another example, weightports 1421, 1422 1431, 1433 and 1436 may be used to inject the bondingagent on the back surface 166. The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture are not limited in this regard.

The process 3900 may also include spreading the bonding agent on theback surface 166 (block 3920) after injection of the bonding agent ontothe back surface 166 so that a generally uniform coating of the bondingagent is provided on the back surface 166. According to one example, thebonding agent may be spread on the back surface 166 by injecting airinto the interior cavity 700 through one or more of the first set ofweight ports 1420 and the second set of weight ports 1430. The air maybe injected into the interior cavity 700 and on the back surface 166 byinserting an air nozzle into one or more of the first set of weightports 1420 and the second set of weight ports 1430. According to oneexample, the air nozzle may be moved, rotated and/or swiveled at acertain distance from the back surface 166 so as to uniformly blow aironto the bonding agent to spread the bonding agent on the back surface166 for a uniform coating or a substantially uniform coating of thebonding agent on the back surface 166. The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.

The process 3900 may include a single step of injecting and uniformly orsubstantially uniformly coating the back surface 166 with the bondingagent. In one example, the bonding agent may be injected on the backsurface 166 by being converted into fine particles or droplets (i.e.,atomized) and sprayed on the back surface 166. Accordingly, the backsurface 166 may be uniformly or substantially uniformly coated with thebonding agent in one step. A substantially uniform coating of the backsurface 166 with the bonding agent may be defined as a coating havingslight non-uniformities due to the injection process or themanufacturing process. However, such slight non-uniformities may notaffect the bonding of the filler material to the back surface 166 withthe bonding agent as described herein. For example, spraying the bondingagent on the back surface 166 may result in overlapping regions of thebonding agent having a slightly greater coating thickness than otherregions of the bonding agent on the back surface 166. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.

As described herein, any two or more of the weight portions may beconfigured as a single weight portion. In the example of FIGS. 40 and41, a golf club head 4000 may include a body portion 4010 and two ormore weight portions, generally shown as a first set of weight portions4020 (e.g., shown as weight portions 4021, 4022, 4023, and 4024) and asecond weight portion 4030. The body portion 4010 may include a toeportion 4040, a heel portion 4050, a front portion (not shown), a backportion 4070, a top portion 4080, and a sole portion 4090. The frontportion may be similar in many respects to the front portion 160 of thegolf club head 100. Accordingly, details of the front portion of thegolf club head 4000 are not provided.

The body portion 4010 may be made of a first material whereas the firstset of weight portions 4020 and the second weight portion 4030 may bemade of a second material. The first and second materials may be similaror different materials. For example, the body portion 4010 may bepartially or entirely made of a steel-based material (e.g., 17-4 PHstainless steel, Nitronic® 50 stainless steel, maraging steel or othertypes of stainless steel), a titanium-based material, an aluminum-basedmaterial (e.g., a high-strength aluminum alloy or a composite aluminumalloy coated with a high-strength alloy), any combination thereof,and/or other suitable types of materials. The first set of weightportions 4020 and the second weight portion 4030 may be partially orentirely made of a high-density material such as a tungsten-basedmaterial or other suitable types of materials. Alternatively, the bodyportion 4010 and/or the first set of weight portions 4020 and the secondweight portion 4030 may be partially or entirely made of a non-metalmaterial (e.g., composite, plastic, etc.). The apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture are not limited in this regard.

The golf club head 4000 may be an iron-type golf club head (e.g., a1-iron, a 2-iron, a 3-iron, a 4-iron, a 5-iron, a 6-iron, a 7-iron, an8-iron, a 9-iron, etc.) or a wedge-type golf club head (e.g., a pitchingwedge, a lob wedge, a sand wedge, an n-degree wedge such as 44 degrees(°), 48°, 52°, 56°, 60°, etc.). Although FIGS. 40 and 41 may depict aparticular type of club head, the apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein may be applicable to other types of clubheads (e.g., a driver-type club head, a fairway wood-type club head, ahybrid-type club head, a putter-type club head, etc.). The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

The toe portion 4040 and the heel portion 4050 may be on opposite endsof the body portion 4010. The heel portion 4050 may include a hoselportion 4055 configured to receive a shaft (not shown) with a grip (notshown) on one end and the golf club head 4000 on the opposite end of theshaft to form a golf club.

The back portion 4070 may include a back wall portion 4110 with one ormore exterior weight ports along a periphery of the back portion 4070,generally shown as a first set of exterior weight ports 4120 (e.g.,shown as weight ports 4121, 4122, 4123, and 4124) and a second weightport 4130. Each exterior weight port of the first set of weight ports4120 may be associated with a port diameter. In one example, the portdiameter may be about 0.25 inch (6.35 millimeters). Any two adjacentexterior weight ports of the first set of exterior weight ports 4120 maybe separated by less than the port diameter. The first set of weightports 4120 and the second weight port 4130 may be exterior weight portsconfigured to receive one or more weight portions. Each weight portionof the first set of weight portions 4020 (e.g., shown as weight portions4021, 4022, 4023, and 4024) may be disposed in a weight port of thefirst set of weight ports 4120 (e.g., shown as weight ports 4121, 4122,4123, and 4124) located at or proximate to the toe portion 4040 and/orthe top portion 4080 on the back portion 4070. For example, the weightportion 4021 may be partially or entirely disposed in the weight port4121. In another example, the weight portion 4022 may be disposed in aweight port 4122 located in a transition region between the top portion4080 and the toe portion 4040 (e.g., a top-and-toe transition region).

The second weight port 4130 may be a recess extending from the toeportion 4040 or a location proximate to the toe portion 4040 to the soleportion or a location proximate to the sole portion 4090 and through thetransition region between the toe portion 4040 and the sole portion4090. Accordingly, as shown in FIG. 40, the second weight port 4130 mayresemble an L-shaped recess. The second weight portion 4030 may resemblethe shape of the second weight port 4130 and may be configured to bedisposed in the second weight port 4130. The second weight portion 4030may be partially or fully disposed in the weight port 4130. The secondweight portion 4030 may have any shape such as oval, rectangular,triangular, or any geometric or non-geometric shape. The second weightport 4130 may be shaped similar to the second weight portion 4030.However, portions of the second weight portion 4030 that are inserted inthe second weight port 4130 may have similar shapes as the weight port4130. As described in detail herein, any of the weight portionsdescribed herein, including the weight portions 4020 and the secondweight portion 4030 may be coupled to the back portion 4070 of the bodyportion 4010 with various manufacturing methods and/or processes (e.g.,a bonding process, a welding process, a brazing process, a mechanicallocking method, any combination thereof, or other suitable manufacturingmethods and/or processes).

The weight portions of the first set of weight portions 4020 may havesimilar or different physical properties (e.g., color, shape, size,density, mass, volume, etc.). In the illustrated example as shown inFIG. 41, each of the weight portions of the first set of weight portions4020 may have a cylindrical shape (e.g., a circular cross section).Alternatively, each of the weight portions of the first set of weightportions 4020 may have different shapes. Although the above examples maydescribe weight portions having a particular shape, the apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein may include weightportions of other suitable shapes (e.g., a portion of or a whole sphere,cube, cone, cylinder, pyramid, cuboidal, prism, frustum, or othersuitable geometric shape). The apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein are not limited in this regard.

The terms “and” and “or” may have both conjunctive and disjunctivemeanings. The terms “a” and “an” are defined as one or more unless thisdisclosure indicates otherwise. The term “coupled” and any variationthereof refer to directly or indirectly connecting two or more elementschemically, mechanically, and/or otherwise. The phrase “removablyconnected” is defined such that two elements that are “removablyconnected” may be separated from each other without breaking ordestroying the utility of either element.

The term “substantially” when used to describe a characteristic,parameter, property, or value of an element may represent deviations orvariations that do not diminish the characteristic, parameter, property,or value that the element may be intended to provide. Deviations orvariations in a characteristic, parameter, property, or value of anelement may be based on, for example, tolerances, measurement errors,measurement accuracy limitations and other factors. The term “proximate”is synonymous with terms such as “adjacent,” “close,” “immediate,”“nearby”, “neighboring”, etc., and such terms may be usedinterchangeably as appearing in this disclosure.

The apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture described herein maybe implemented in a variety of embodiments, and the foregoingdescription of some of these embodiments does not necessarily representa complete description of all possible embodiments. Instead, thedescription of the drawings, and the drawings themselves, disclose atleast one embodiment, and may disclosure alternative embodiments.

As the rules of golf may change from time to time (e.g., new regulationsmay be adopted or old rules may be eliminated or modified by golfstandard organizations and/or governing bodies such as the United StatesGolf Association (USGA), the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews(R&A), etc.), golf equipment related to the apparatus, methods, andarticles of manufacture described herein may be conforming ornon-conforming to the rules of golf at any particular time. Accordingly,golf equipment related to the apparatus, methods, and articles ofmanufacture described herein may be advertised, offered for sale, and/orsold as conforming or non-conforming golf equipment. The apparatus,methods, and articles of manufacture described herein are not limited inthis regard.

Although certain example apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacturehave been described herein, the scope of coverage of this disclosure isnot limited thereto. On the contrary, this disclosure covers allapparatus, methods, and articles of articles of manufacture fairlyfalling within the scope of the appended claims either literally orunder the doctrine of equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A golf club head comprising: a body portionhaving a face portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a top portion, asole portion, a back portion, and an interior cavity extending betweenthe top and sole portions and being partially or entirely filled with anelastic polymer material; a plurality of weight portions; and aplurality of weight ports located along a periphery of the back portionproximate to the sole portion and extending between the toe portion andthe heel portion, the plurality of weight ports being substantiallysimilarly spaced apart, each of the weight ports of the plurality ofweight ports having a substantially similar port diameter as an adjacentweight port and being separated by less than the port diameter from theadjacent weight port, each weight port configured to receive at leastone weight portion of the plurality of weight portions, the interiorcavity being accessible through at least one of the weight ports of theplurality of weight ports.
 2. A golf club head as defined in claim 1,wherein the interior cavity comprises a cavity separating the faceportion and the plurality of weight ports.
 3. A golf club head asdefined in claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of exterior weightports comprises a port wall separated from a back surface of the faceportion by the interior cavity.
 4. A golf club head as defined in claim1, wherein the plurality of weight ports comprise weight ports locatedalong the periphery of the back portion proximate to the top portion. 5.A golf club head as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of weightportions comprises a first weight portion having a first weight portionmass and a second weight portion having a second weight portion mass,wherein the first weight portion mass is relatively less than the secondweight portion mass.
 6. A golf club head as defined in claim 1, whereinthe face portion comprises a thickness of less than or equal to 1.5millimeters (0.060 inch).
 7. A golf club head as defined in claim 1,wherein the elastic polymer material comprises a non-foaming injectionmoldable elastic polymer material.
 8. A golf club head comprising: abody portion having a face portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, a topportion, a sole portion, and a back portion; and a plurality of weightports located along a periphery of the back portion, the plurality ofweight ports comprising: a first set of weight ports located above ahorizontal midplane of the golf club head and being proximate to the topportion and extending between the toe portion and the heel portion, thefirst set of weight ports being substantially similarly spaced apart,each of the weight ports of the first set of weight ports having asubstantially similar first port diameter as an adjacent weight port andbeing separated by less than the first port diameter from the adjacentweight port, and a second set of weight ports located below a horizontalmidplane of the golf club head and being proximate to the sole portionand extending between the toe portion and the heel portion, the secondset of weight ports being substantially similarly spaced apart, each ofthe weight ports of the second set of weight ports having asubstantially similar second port diameter as an adjacent weight portand being separated by less than the second port diameter from theadjacent weight port, wherein the first set of weight ports has lessweight ports than the second set of weight ports.
 9. A golf club head asdefined in claim 8, the body portion comprising an interior cavityextending between the top and sole portions and being partially orentirely filled with an elastic polymer material, the interior cavitybeing accessible through at least one of the weight ports of theplurality of weight ports.
 10. A golf club head as defined in claim 8,comprising a plurality of weight portions, each weight port of theplurality of weight ports configured to receive a weight portion of theplurality of weight portions.
 11. A golf club head as defined in claim8, comprising a plurality of weight portions, each weight port of theplurality of weight ports configured to receive a weight portion of theplurality of weight portions, wherein the plurality of weight portionscomprises weight portions with more than about 85% of the total weightportion mass being below the horizontal midplane of the golf club head.12. A golf club head as defined in claim 8, the body portion comprisingan interior cavity extending between the top and sole portions and beingpartially or entirely filled with an elastic polymer material, whereinthe interior cavity comprises a cavity height extending between the topportion and the sole portion, the cavity height being at least 50% of abody height of the hollow body portion.
 13. A golf club head as definedin claim 8, the body portion comprising an interior cavity extendingbetween the top and sole portions and being partially or entirely filledwith an elastic polymer material, wherein the interior cavity comprisesa cavity being at least 50% filled with a non-foaming injection moldableelastic polymer material.
 14. A golf club head as defined in claim 8,the body portion comprising an interior cavity extending between the topand sole portions and being partially or entirely filled with an elasticpolymer material, wherein the interior cavity comprises a cavityseparating the face portion and the back portion.
 15. A golf club headas defined in claim 8, wherein the face portion comprises a thickness ofless than or equal to 1.5 millimeters (0.060 inch).
 16. A golf club headcomprising: a hollow body portion having a face portion with a thicknessof less than or equal to 1.5 millimeters (0.060 inch), a toe portion, aheel portion, a top portion, a sole portion, a back portion, and aninterior cavity extending between the top and sole portions; an elasticpolymer material in the interior cavity configured to partially orentirely fill the interior cavity by injection molding, the elasticpolymer material being attached to the face portion and configured tostructurally support the face portion during impact of the face portionwith a golf ball; and a plurality of substantially similarly spacedapart weight portions coupled to the hollow body portion at or proximateto a sole-and-toe transition region between the sole portion and the toeportion and located below a horizontal midplane of the golf club head.17. A golf club head as defined in claim 16, wherein the interior cavitycomprises a cavity having at least 50% filled with a thermoplasticelastomer material.
 18. A golf club head as defined in claim 16, whereinthe hollow body portion comprises an interior cavity separating the faceportion and the first and second sets of weight portions.
 19. A golfclub head as defined in claim 16 comprising a plurality of weight portson the back portion, each weight port configured to receive a weightportion of the plurality of weight portions, wherein the interior cavityis partially or entirely filled by injection molding the elastic polymermaterial from at least one weight port of the plurality of weight portshaving access to the interior cavity.
 20. A golf club head as defined inclaim 16, wherein the elastic polymer material comprises a non-foaminginjection moldable elastic polymer material.